[Illustration: LA BALLERINA (BY CANOVA), ROME, ITALY.--Here is another of the masterpieces of this famous master-sculptor. It is hewn out of a solid block of marble, and comes under the head of "grace and elegance," one of the divisions of Canova's works. This subject is a most striking one. Like all his other subjects of grace, it is in all its details, an expression of attitude, delicacy of finish and elegance. The profile is charming, the twist of the hair natural, and the lines and curves of the arms perfect, while the drapery is next to real.] [Illustration: LAOCOONTE, VATICAN GALLERY, ROME, ITALY.--This famous group represents Laocoon and his two sons, who were strangled by serpents at the command of Apollo. According to Pliny, it was executed by three Rhodians, and placed in the Palace of Titus. It was discovered under Julius II., in 1506, near Sette Sale, and was termed by Michael Angelo a "marvel of art." The work is admirably preserved, with the exception of the three uplifted arms, which have been incorrectly restored. The dramatic suspense of the moment, and the profoundly expressive attitude of the heads, denote the perfection of the Rhodian school of art.] [Illustration: TOLEDO STREET, NAPLES, ITALY.--This famous city is beautifully situated on the Bay of Naples, with Mount Vesuvius in the distance. Its charming position has given rise to the phrase "See Naples and die." It was founded by the Greeks, and here Virgil spent his time in study, his tomb being one of the points of interest for travelers. The city is still surrounded by a wall. It has often suffered from earthquakes and eruptions. The manufactures are numerous, of which macaroni and vermicelli are of first importance. The photograph represents Toledo Street, which intersects the city from south to north, and with its immense amount of well-conducted business, presents a very interesting sight.] [Illustration: CRATER OF MOUNT VESUVIUS, ITALY.--This volcano, with a crater of nearly a quarter of a mile in circumference, rises in lonely majesty from the Bay of Naples, and varies in height from 3900 to 4900 feet, according to the varied eruptions. Vesuvius in the time of Nero manifested itself by a fearful earthquake, damaging Herculaneum and Pompeii. An eruption occurred in 79 A.D. by which the two cities named, were lost to the world for seventeen centuries. Another most terrific eruption occurred in 1631, by which a stone weighing twenty-five tons was thrown a distance of fifteen miles, and streams of lava poured from the summit, destroying over three thousand people.]